It’s Wednesday, November 4, and public transportation was a big winner of yesterday’s election.
We may not know the outcome of the presidential election yet, but one clear winner emerged as votes were tallied last night: public transportation.
Pro-transit ballot referenda passed in several cities and states around the country, from Seattle to San Antonio and Arkansas to California. Residents of Fairfax, Virginia, for example, approved issuing $160 million in bonds to maintain and improve the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. In Denver, Colorado, a majority of voters said yes to a climate change sales tax that is expected to raise around $40 million a year for sustainable initiatives including public transit.
Transportation stans in Austin, Texas, helped pass Proposition A, a “transformational” plan to bring high-speed transit to the city, including Austin’s first light rail system. The $7.1 billion proposal, known as “Project Connect,” will also fund construction of a new downtown tunnel system and provide $300 million for affordable housing. Another Austin initiative, Prop B, also won by a wide margin, and will allow the city to raise $460 million for additional transportation infrastructure like sidewalks and bikeways.
In Austin and elsewhere, environmental advocates celebrated the successful transit referenda as big wins for the climate. In 2018, U.S. transportation contributed more greenhouse gas emissions — mostly from cars, trucks, and other personal vehicles — than any other economic sector.
The Smog
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